Press Release

Mayor honours young Derry soccer players

Friday, December 01, 2006

The Mayor, Councillor Helen Quigley will host a reception on Monday, 04 December at 6.15 pm, to mark the successes of two under-17 year old teams from the Greater Shantallow Area that were successful at a recent soccer project in Dundalk.

The teams who were participants in the local Midnight Street Soccer Scheme, travelled to Dundalk and won two major honours in the competition. The event was held in the JJB Soccer Dome in Dundalk and played host to 32 teams from all over the North.

Paying tribute to the local teams who lifted the Premiership and Championship trophies, the Mayor said she was delighted at their success. “This double has never been achieved in this competition to date. The Derry teams faced major competition, and have been tremendous ambassadors for their city by showing grit and determination but most of all superior skill, in winning the two biggest cups of the night.”

The young teams - Derry All Stars and Ollie’s Babes - had never before played together, until the Shatallow based Midnight Street Soccer Scheme had organised the opportunity for young people in the Greater Shantallow Area to be involved in positive activities in the evenings and at weekends. The scheme is delivered to offer young people an alternative to anti-social behaviour in the Greater Shantallow Area and by encouraging them to get involved in sports activity.

The Mayor added that she was delighted at the young people’s success and that their hard work and dedication as part of the Midnight Soccer Scheme had paid off. By hosting a reception in their honour she said she hoped to recognise the importance of their achievement and encourage them to be involved in other sports related initiatives.

Teresa Bradley is Derry City Council’s Fit Futures Development Officer, who delivers the Midnight Street Soccer Scheme in partnership with the YES project (Youth Educated in Safety). She is also delighted at the success of the project – “This event was primarily designed to take young people off the streets. We are obviously delighted at its success and at winning the top two prizes in Dundalk. This pilot project and its success highlight the need for consistent programming of this type of activity and we are currently actively looking for a sponsor that would sustain this programme on the ground.”

Cathal McCauley from Shantallow Community Residents stated: “We took a bus full of young Greater Shantallow people to Dundalk on Saturday the 18th of November and we returned with a bus load of superstars. All of them are a credit to the place they grew up in.”

Ends

Notes to Editor:

There will be a photo opportunity on Monday, 04 December at the Mayor’s Parlour, Guildhall at 6.15 pm.

Ends

Further press information can be obtained by contacting the Marketing and Communications Section, Derry City Council, Tel. 028 7137 6504.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page